​South Africa's first Smoke and Tobacco-free campus will be celebrating its success on World No Tobacco Day 2019, marked on 31 May.

On 1 January 2019, Stellenbosch University's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) became South Africa's first entirely Smoke and Tobacco-free campus, and since then, a number of students and staff members have taken steps to quit using tobacco.

Thanks to the new regulations regarding the use of tobacco, as well as a campaign marketing smoking-cessation steps and services on Tygerberg Campus, many students and staff members have consulted with Campus Health Services on how to quit using cigarettes and other forms of tobacco.

Before the campaign kicked off in October 2018, the FMHS recognised a responsibility to both its staff members and students to provide a healthy and safe environment. At the beginning of the year, the Tygerberg Campus officially became a smoke- and tobacco-free zone. Now anyone who enters the campus is strictly forbidden from using any form of tobacco on the property.

The Tygerberg Campus has been declared entirely smoke and tobacco free, which means that the use of newer tobacco products (e.g. e-cigarettes) also is not allowed. There are no designated smoking areas on the campus, where many of South Africa's future health leaders are being trained.

26 patients already treated on campus

While official statistics are still being captured on the number of successful interventions, Campus Health Services commented that the regulations have certainly encouraged a number of students and staff members to seek help.

According to Dr Craig Thompson, Director of Medical Services at Campus Health Services, a total of 26 patients were seen at Tygerberg Campus Health Services since the start of the campaign – 38.5% of whom were seen at the end of 2018 when the campaign first kicked off.

“Of the students, six were male and two were female. Of the staff, one was male and 15 female," notes Thompson. “The most popular smoking cessation medicines supplied were Champix, Zyban, and Nicorettes."

Florence de Vries is one of the staff members who tapped into this free service: “I enjoyed smoking for a significant part of my life but decided to quit for a number of reasons earlier this year. The Smoke- and Tobacco-free Campus Campaign certainly helped from an awareness perspective, and I found the Campus Health resources quite helpful."

De Vries, who works in the FMHS's Marketing and Communications Division, emphasises that the mental and physical onus to quit still lies with the individual. While Campus Health Services can certainly assist in making the process of quitting easier, it does take commitment from the individual to make a long-term lifestyle change that will benefit their health.

World No Tobacco Day 2019

This year, the focus of World No Tobacco Day is on the negative impact that tobacco has on people's lungs. It's well recognised that tobacco use can lead to lung disease – from lung cancer to chronic respiratory disease.

“The campaign also serves as a call to action, advocating for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption and engaging stakeholders across multiple sectors in the fight for tobacco control," says the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The FMHS recognises that tobacco exposure is a threat to the lung health for everyone – not just smokers – and that second-hand smoke is a significant health threat. In addition, the FMHS acknowledges that smoking is addictive and that smokers might find it difficult to stop smoking, which is why assistance is offered through Campus Health Services.

Need help quitting?

Visit Tygerberg Campus Health Services for an assessment, counselling and access to free smoking-cessation tools, including medication and/or nicotine replacement therapy. Campus Health Services is situated on the 2nd floor of the Tygerberg Student Centre. Alternatively, call +27 21 938 9590 to book an appointment. For general enquiries, e-mail tobaccofree@sun.ac.za.